The fifth-place showing might not have suggested it, but Tuesday’s
Chesterton Sectional showing at a rainy Sunset Hill Farm was a step in the
right direction for the Chesterton girls cross country team.

“We’re getting there,” Trojans coach Brian Carden said. “We had a decent
group. They ran stronger through the 4K. They went out and raced. We’ve just
got to finish the last K a little better. We’re just hanging on for dear
life, trying to finish. Some did a nice job. Some got a little tired.”

The Trojans scored 115 points, well off the pace of LaPorte (59), which
nipped Portage (60) by a point, as it did at the Duneland Athletic
Conference meet. Valparaiso (69) took third, followed by New Prairie (82).

“It was our home course, so we had an advantage,” Carden said. “I think the
weather affected everybody. We just have to continue on from here, look to
do better on Saturday and get some momentum going. You just try to get
better every week. That’s all you can do.”

Freshman Lindsey Nielsen led the way for Chesterton, placing 13th in
20:15.31.

“Lindsey ran tough,” Carden said. “I think she had some nerves at the start
of the race, but she was OK. She was our leader on the course. Getting
all-sectional (top 15), that’s a good accomplishment for her. Hopefully,
it’ll give her some confidence and she runs even better at regionals.”

“Kelly ran a really good race,” Carden said. “She knew she might have to
jump in there and go, and she did a good job. Erin wanted to run. She warmed
up and it was bothering her. It’s a wet day, so we decided to give it a rest
and get her back in there Saturday.”

Chesterton advances to the New Prairie Regional on Saturday. Carden is
optimistic about advancing, also knowing it will get significantly tougher
at the semistate.

“It’s looking like we’re going to have to have a pretty special day to get
out of semistate,” he said. “But you never know what’s going to happen.
They’ve just got to put it together.”